Published 4:00 am, Thursday, December 30, 1999

1999-12-30 04:00:00 PDT SAN FRAN -- Jane and Matthew Doyle aren't rich, but they've set a new standard for giving.

The married couple, both teachers, live in the Tenderloin and give generously to a wide gamut of local charities. And as they prepare to move from the city, they are giving away many of their possessions -- including furniture, books, winter coats, sleeping bags and cash -- to immigrant families and homeless people who live in their neighborhood.

As a special farewell, they have donated $50 to Season of Sharing "in honor of the great city and people of San Francisco." They decided to donate after finding out that one of their neighbors had been helped by the fund.

"We've had a great time here," said Jane Doyle, who, with her husband, requested that their real names not be used. "San Francisco is a wonderful place. We've been very fortunate here, so we feel obligated to give something back."

Doyle would not say exactly where they are moving, except it is someplace where they can swim in warm water.

"We've both gotten fat here," she said. "There's too much good food. It's time for a change of lifestyle."

But before they go, the Doyles are busy giving away their valuables. In the past few days, Doyle has given several sleeping bags to the homeless at United Nations Plaza. She has given heavy winter coats to the maintenance staff in her Eddy Street apartment building. Mattresses, dressers and other furniture have gone to her neighbors, many of whom are immigrants. Doyle has also written a lot of checks to charity.

"I always try to give away whatever I can, because if I were in their situation, I'd be grateful for help," she said. "And I am grateful for everything I have. I wish I could give more."

Doyle and her husband asked for anonymity because they do not want the spotlight on them, but rather on the people in need.

"Unless you're giving millions, I don't think you should call attention to yourself," she said. "That's not part of charity. I think charity should be about giving quietly. A lot of times, we give in such a way that people don't even know where it's coming from."

The Doyles' love affair with San Francisco started 18 years ago when Jane was offered a job here.

"I said to my husband, 'Would you like to move to San Francisco?' He very quickly said yes, and we moved the next week."

They have especially loved the city's variety of cultures and tolerance and that people of all backgrounds usually find a way to get along. Living in the Tenderloin, they have loved the neighborhood's convenience. They can easily walk to the theater, symphony, restaurants and BART.

"Where we're going, we might not see the culture and tolerance that San Francisco has, and we're going to miss that," she said. "But we are coming back to visit. We have too many connections here."

(Donations to the Season of Sharing Fund help thousands of people throughout the year. Assistance is in the form of grants paid directly to the supplier of services, such as a landlord. Individuals cannot receive direct grants. For more information, see www.seasonofsharing.org.)